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Enjoy a fun family event on New Year’s Eve—the Sparktacular! The University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum opens its doors to the public from 7-9 pm so that friends and family can munch and mingle (and warm up) before the fireworks display begins at 8 pm. Every New Year’s Eve, local businesses sponsor this free event. Because it is the darkest time of year, fireworks are intentionally planned because they are not a big deal to people in Fairbanks in the summer; there is just too much daylight to be able to enjoy seeing the light display in July.

If you go, you will need to plan on arriving earlier enough to get a good parking spot. The locals flood the campus to be able to view this fun community event. You might consider parking around the immediate area, as it allows you the opportunity to get a better vantage point. Watch for people pulling kids in sleds and parking along the roads, and be sure to bundle up; you never know whether the weather will cooperate.